Fox backtracks on drug bill after US pressure

The Mexican president has backed down from a decision to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other drugs after objections from the US.

A day after his office said he would sign the measure into law, Vicente Fox said yesterday he was sending the bill back to congress for changes to make it "absolutely clear" that the possession of drugs would still be a criminal offence.

Earlier yesterday, the US embassy said it had "urged Mexican representatives to review the legislation" after fears it would increase drug tourism from the US to Mexico.